LUXEMBOURG / RankWire.AI / – European Union experienced a 4.7% increase in house prices during the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, with rental costs rising by 3.0%, thereby continuing their upward trend throughout the bloc. According to Eurostat, house prices also grew by 1.2% from the first quarter, while rents increased by 0.7%. These data indicate that housing expenses persisted in climbing across much of the EU during this period.
In the euro area, the pace of house price growth was somewhat slower than in the broader EU, with prices advancing 4.0% year-over-year and 1.1% compared to the previous quarter. The annual increase also moderated from 4.6% in the first quarter of 2026, when prices in the eurozone rose more strongly. Meanwhile, EU-wide annual house price growth decelerated from 5.1% in the first quarter to 4.7% in the second.
Data from individual countries revealed widespread annual gains, though the degree of price movement varied significantly across member states. Among those with available data, 23 countries experienced increases in annual house prices, while three saw declines. Portugal reported the largest rise at 16.5%, followed by Bulgaria at 15.5% and Lithuania at 14.3%. Conversely, prices fell by 2.7% in Finland, 2.2% in Luxembourg, and 0.8% in France.
Broad-based quarterly increases persist across EU housing markets
During the April-to-June quarter, most EU nations saw rising property prices, with data showing increases in 24 member states and declines in only two. Lithuania experienced the strongest quarterly growth at 5.0%, followed by Bulgaria at 4.5% and Romania at 4.4%. Hungary saw a decrease of 1.4%, while in France, house prices dropped 0.8% from the previous quarter.
A separate comparison against the 2025 annual average also demonstrated ongoing rises in housing costs within the EU. In the second quarter of 2026, house prices were 4.1% higher, and rents increased by 2.6%. Bulgaria led the annual house price growth at 14.3%, trailed by Portugal at 14.2% and Lithuania at 12.8%. Finland and France recorded declines of 1.5% and 1.4%, respectively.
Rents continue to climb in every EU country when compared with 2025 averages
When comparing the second quarter to the 2025 annual averages, rent prices rose across all EU nations, with Romania experiencing the largest increase at 41.2%. Croatia followed with a 22.1% rise, and Slovenia saw a 10.2% increase. Estonia and Finland recorded the smallest gains at 0.1% each, while Luxembourg’s rents increased by 1.2%. These figures underscore the considerable variation in rental price movements among different national markets.
Eurostat employs the House Price Index to monitor fluctuations in residential property prices, covering homes bought by households, including new and existing properties. The index encompasses flats, detached houses, and terraced homes, regardless of ownership history or intended use. Since the first quarter of 2024, EU house prices have experienced consecutive quarterly increases. The next release, covering the third quarter of 2026, is scheduled for January 11, 2027.